In the month of May in 2008, Navies of India, South Africa & Brazil got together in the South African coastal town of Simsonstown, to take part what was to be the the first of a continuing series of biennial tri-nation Naval Engagement, known as the India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime [IBSAMAR] exercise. The purpose of this exercise is to improve co-operation, inter-operability & understanding of each other's operations, besides learning & benefitting from the other's experiences.
This Naval exercise is part of a broader aim to enhance co-operation & engagement between the three countries that display a fair degree of parity in socio-economic affairs, and are expected to traverse a congruent trajectory of high economic growth in the future. In effect, becoming comparable players capable of exerting substantial influence on the global stage, subject to them staying on course of the trajectory predicted presently.
India was represented by the Navy's two indigenously designed & built Warships, the Delhi-class guided-missile destroyer, INS Mumbai, built at the country's Mazagon Dock Limited shipyard. The other Indian warship that took part was the Kora-class Corvette, INS Karmuk, built at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers shipyard in West Bengal.
These are some of the pictures showing the two Naval warships photographed during the engagements. Wallpaper material, even if in non-widescreen aspect ratio, they are.
- INS Karmuk
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- INS Mumbai
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image source
The second edition of the exercise was held in 2010, where South Africa again played host, though it was the Indian Navy playing the role of the lead Navy. Brazil has been chosen to play this role for the 2012 exercises.
The picture below, also a Delhi-Class Destroyer, is the flagship vessel of its class, the INS Delhi. It is seen here in Mumbai, welcoming Captain Dilip Donde of the Indian Navy who has become the first Indian to have successfully sailed & circumnavigated the Earth. During the journey he made a halt at South Africa, where a function was organised to felicitate him.
Here, in this album are some photographs of the occasion. The Captain also maintained a blog that he updated during the course of his sojourn. A fascinating read - Indian Navy Solo Circumnavigation.
Godspeed
Related: INS Vikramaditya, Indian Navy Aircraft Carrier in Russia [Photographs]
UPDATED: INS Viraat - Indian Navy Aircraft Carrier [Wallpaper material]
Indian Navy Submarine [Wallpaper]
Indian Navy's Kilo-Class Submarine, INS Sindhuvijay [Photographs]